Laundry chute clothes separator



Jan. 1, 1963 w. E. ESTEP 3,071,260

LAUNDRY CHUTE CLOTHES SEPARATOR Filed June so, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J l I /26 M8 4 4a 2 a? L 1 3 INVENTOR. 77%? WILLIAM E. 5875 40 6g //36 BY Jan. 1, 1963 w. E. ESTEP 3,071,260

LAUNDRY CHUTE CLOTHES SEPARATOR Filed June 30, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR. 10/14 /4M E. 55751 United States Patent 3,071,260 LAUNDRY (IHUTE CLOTHES SEPARATOR Wiiliam E. Estep, Rte. 1, Box 83D, 'Iriadelphia, W. Va. Filed June 30, 1961, Ser. No. 121,153 4 Claims. (Cl. 2141) This invention relates to laundry facilities, and more specifically, the instant invention pertains to the provision of means for separating clothes having different washing characteristics.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to provide a compartmental clothes receptacle adapted for positioning below a clothes chute, together with means for rotating a selected one of the compartments below the clothes chute whereby laundry having different washing characteristics may be separated one from the other.

Another object of this invention is to provide a laundry chute clothes separator of the type generally referred to above, wherein the separator includes a plurality of compartments or receptacles detachably supported on a rotatable support.

This invention contemplates, as a still further object thereof, the provision of electrical control means for selectively positioning the above-referred to receptacles below the clothes chute.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a device of the type generally described supra, the device being inexpensive to manufacture and maintain, noncomplex in construction and assembly, and durable in use.

Other and further objects and advantages of the instant invention will become more evident from a consideration of the following specification when read in conjunction with the annexed drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a laundry chute clothes separator constructed in accordance with this invention, and illustrating the same in association with a clothes washer and a clothes chute;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged top plan view of the device shown in FIGURE 1, FIGURE 2 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 2-2 of FIGURE 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the laundry chute clothes separator, FIGURE 3 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 33 of FIGURE 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a top plan view of the supporting base for the laundry chute clot-hes separator, FIGURE 4 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 44 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the bearing support means, FIGURE 5 being taken substantially on the vertical plane of line 5-5 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view of the driving means for the laundry chute clothes separator, FIGURE 6 being taken substantially on the horizontal plane of line 6-6 of FIGURE 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIGURE 7 is a schematic wiring diagram showing the control circuits for the motor means whereby the compartments or receptacles may be selectively disposed below the aforementioned clothes chute.

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Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 16 designates, in general, a laundry chute clothes separator constructed in accordance with the teachings of this invention. The clothes separator 10 is seen to include a base 12 which comprises a normally horizontal rectangular base plate 14 (see FIGURE 3) having a continuous depending peripheral side wall '16. The lower end of the side wall 16 terminates in an inwardly-extending normally horizontal continuous peripheral flange 18 from which depend conventional roller support means 20. The roller support means are adapted, of course, to engage against a floor 21 or other similar supporting surface.

Disposed inwardly of the base plate 14 and adjacent each corner thereof, the base plate 14 has formed therein hollow cylindrical bearing sockets 22 (see FIGURE 5) each of which is provided with a bearing liner 24. The bearing sockets 22 each are provided with a hollow cylindrical side wall 26 which projects above the base plate 14 and is peened over or otherwise criniped about the upper side of a roller bearing 28.

Spaced inwardly from each of the bearings 28 and depending from the base plate 14 are normally closed singlepole, single-throw limiting micro-switches 30, 32, 34 and 36 (see FIGURES 3 and 7). Each of the switches is provided with depressible switch arms 33, 4d, 42 and 44., adapted to break engagement with the fixed switch contacts 46, 48, 5d and 52, respectively.

Reference numeral 54 denotes a motor support plate which is fixedly secured to the underside of the base plate 14 as by rivets 55. From the motor support plate de pends the motor 56 having a drive shaft 53 on the outer end of which is fixedly secured a worm gear 60.

Reference numeral 62 indicates, in general, a substantially cylindrical gear housing having an offset sleeve 64 opening therein and which is adapted to receive the worm gear 6%. Disposed within the gear housing 62 is a driven gear 66 which meshes with the worm gear and which is fixedly secured to a vertically-extending shaft 68 that projects through the base plate 14 and has integrally formed therewith a downwardly-limiting boss 70. The upper end of the shaft 68 terminates in the squared end 72.

Reference numeral 74 designates, in general, a rotatable laundry-receiving receptacle support device, the device 74 including a substantially rectangular bottom plate 76 having integral with the marginal edges thereof an upstanding continuous peripheral side wall 78 which, at its upper end, is integral with an inwardly-extending continuous rectangular flange 8t Integral with the flange 80 and depending from the inner marginal edges thereof is a depending rectangular side wall 82 which, at its lower end, is integral with a substantially rectangular floor 84 which extends substantially parallel to the rectangular bottom plate 76. A centrally-disposed boss 86 projects upwardly from the bottom plate 76 and is internally squared to receive a complementary boss liner 88. The squared end 72 of the shaft 68 engages within the liner 88.

Reference numeral 90 denotes, in general, a plurality of substantially hollow rectangular laundry-receiving receptacles or compartments which are vertically elongated, as viewed in FIGURES 1 and 3. Each of the receptacles or compartments 90 includes the side walls 92, 94, 96 and 98, and a bottom wall 100. The arrangement and construction is such that the receptacles 90 may be placed on the floor 84 with their respective bottom walls 180 in juxtaposition with respect thereto, and with the side walls of the receptacles 91) disposed in side-byside relationship. The receptacles 99 are, of course, interchangeable, one with another. It will be observed, reference being made to FIGURES 2 and 3, that the four receptacles or compartments 90 fit snugly within the depending rectangular side wall 82. To serve a function to be described below, the bottom plate 76 has secured thereto a switch-operating cam plate 102 which depends therefrom and is so located as to open and close the switch arms 38, 40, 42 and 44 in succession.

The entire assembly of the rotatable laundry-receiving receptacle support device and its associated laundry-receiving receptacles are supported, rotatably, on the bean ings 28 which bear against the bottom plate 76.

As a general rule, the laundry chute clothes separator is located in the basement of a home or other edifice, with one of the compartments 90 disposed immediately below the discharge end of a clothes chute 1136. Preferably, though not necessarily, the separator 18 is located in the basement 1414 in close proximity to a conventional washing machine 188. In any event, the rollers facilitate the movement of the separator 10 toward and away from the clothes washer 108, whereby, the unloading of the several compartments 98 is greatly facilitated.

As is seen in FIGURE 1 of the drawings, the upper end of the clothes chute 106 opens into a room 110 of the house or edifice in which the same is installed. Also located in the room 118 is a selector switch 112 which controls, selectively, which one of the compartments 98 shall be rotated into position below the discharge end of the chute 186. Together with the selector switch 112 is an indicator light 114.

Referring now more specifically to the wiring diagram of FIGURE 7, reference numerals 116, 118 designate wires connected at one of their ends, with the conventional 110 volt-115 volt source of AC, the other ends of the wires 116, 118 being connected to the primary winding 120 of a transformer designated, in general, by the reference numeral 122. The transformer 122 is of the voltage step-down type whereby the 110-115 volt input is reduced to 6 to 12 volts, optionally. Reference numeral .126 denotes, in general, an electromagnetically-operated relay switch which includes a fixed switch contact 128, a pivotal switch arm 130 and an electromagnet 132 disposed immediately below or adjacent to the switch arm 130. The arrangement is that while the relay switch 126 is normally open, energization of the electromagnet 132 will cause the switch arm to pivot toward the electromagnet 132 and close against the fixed switch contact 128. Lead 134 is connected, at one of its ends, with the wire 118, and the other end of the lead 134 is connected to one side of a motor '56. The other side of the motor 56 connects through lead 136 with the fixed switch contact 128. Lead 138 connects, at one of its ends, with the wire 116, and at its other end with the pivotal switch arm 130. Thus, when the electromagnet 132 is energized and the switch arm 130 engages and closes against the fixed switch contact 128, the motor 56 will be energized.

Lead 140 is connected to one side of the secondary 124 and has interposed therein a normally open manuallyoperable single-pole, single-throw switch 142. The lead 140 also connects with a lead 144 which, in turn, connects with one side of the winding of the electromagnet 132. The other side of the secondary 124 connects through lead 146 and fuse 148 with a rotatable switch arm 150 of the selector switch 112. The switch arm 150 is adapted to be moved selectively into fixed switch contacts 152, 154, 156 and 158. Lead 1611 is connected, at one of its ends, with the fixed switch contact 152 and at its other end with the microswitch arm 38. The fixed switch contact 154 connects through lead 162 with the switch arm 40. Similarly, the fixed switch contact 156 connects through lead 164 with the micro-switch arm 42, and the fixed switch contact 158 connects through lead 4 a. 166 with the micro-switch arm 44. Reference numeral 168 denotes a common lead connected to the fixed switch contacts 46, 48, 5t] and 52 and with the other side of the winding of the electromagnet 132.

One side of the indicating light 114 connects through lead 170 with the lead 144, and the other side of the indicating light 11 4 connects through lead 172 with the lead 168. Thus, it is seen that whenever the winding of the electromagnet 132 is energized, the indicating light 114 will also be energized.

The several leads 161 162, 164, 166, 178 and 172 may be gathered together as a cable 174 connected, at one of its ends, with the selector switch 112 and the indicator light 114 and at its other end with an outlet box located in the basement 104. A plug 178 detachably connects a second cable 188 carrying extensions of the aforesaid leads for detachable connection with a conventional plug-and-socket arrangement designated, in general, by reference numeral 182 carried on the depending side wall 16. The electric outlet 184 provides the voltage for the motor 56 via a cable 186 which is detachably connected with the motor 56 via the conventional socketand-plug arrangement 188.

Having described in detail the component elements of this invention, it is deemed obvious in operation. However, a brief explanation is set forth below.

Let it be assumed that the laundry chute clothes separator 10 has been moved into its position as shown in FIGURE 1, that is, below the discharge end of the chute 106. Let it further be assumed that the switch 142 has been closed. Let it also be further assumed that it is desired to deposit in a given one of the receptacles white collars, sheets, et cetera. The operator now manipulates the switch 112 to swing the switch arm into contact with a selected one of the fixed switch contacts 152, 154, 156 or 158. In this instance, and referring to FIGURE 7 of the drawings, the switch arm 150 is brought into contact with the fixed switch contact 152. Now, current will flow through the lead 146 from the secondary 124 to the switch arm 150 and its associated fixed switch contact 152, and through lead to the switch arm 38. Remembering that the micro-switches are all closed, current will then pass via the fixed switch contact 4-6 and through the common lead 168 to one side of the winding of the electromagnet 132. The current then passes from the other side of the winding of the electromagnet 132 through lead 144 and lead 140, and passes through the switch 142 to the other side of the secondary winding of the secondary 124. The electromagnet 132 now being energized causes the switch arm 130 to close against the fixed switch contact 128 whereby the motor 56 is energized. This energization takes place through the wire 118, lead 102 to one side of the motor 56, and from the other side of the motor 56 through lead 136, fixed switch contact 128, switch arm 130, and lead 138 to the other side of the line or wire 116.

With the motor energized, the shaft 58 is rotated which, in turn, rotates the worm gear 68. Since the worm gear 60 is in mesh with the gear 66 which, in turn, is fixedly secured to the shaft 68, the gear 66 will rotate, causing the shaft 68 to also rotate. As the shaft 68 turns, the laundry-receiving receptacle support device 74 also rotates. The rotation of the laundry-receiving receptacle support device 74 will continue until the cam 182 engages against the switch arm 38 to depress the same and break the circuit to the electromagnet 132. At that time, the rotation of the laundryreceiving receptacle support device ceases, since, upon de-energization of the electromagnet 132 the circuit to to the motor 56 is interrupted, the switch arm 130 moving away from and breaking contact with the fixed switch contact 128. Should a second one of the receptacles 80 be desired to be located below the discharge end of the chute 106, the switch 112 is again actuated to bring the switch arm 158 into the interengagement with the proper pll 23 one of the other fixed switch contacts 154, 156 or 158 and the energization of the switch 126 takes place as before, and the motor 56 is again energized.

It should be noted that the indicator light 114 is connected across the electromagnet 132, and consequently, when the same is energized, the light 114 will also be energized.

Having described and illustrated this invention in detail, it will be understood that the same is offered merely by way of example, and that this invention is to be lim ited only by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A laundry chute clothes separator comprising a base, an upright laundry-receiving receptacle support device, means supporting said support means for rotation on said base, a plurality of laundry-receiving receptacles removably mounted on said support means, an electric motor fixedly secured to said base, said motor including a drive shaft having a worm gear fixedly secured thereon, a gear housing fixedly secured on said base, a gear disposed within said housing and meshing with said worm gear in driving relation, an upright driven shaft having one of its ends fixedly secured to said gear and its other end fixedly connected with said support means whereby energization of said motor will effect rotation of said support means, an electric circuit including a source of E.M.F., said motor, a selector switch and a plurality of normally closed limiting switches for limiting the duration in time of the energization of said motor whereby the degree of rotation of said support means is also limited, said selector switch being operable to connect the same in series with one of said limiting switches to energize said motor, said limiting switches being carried on said base, and means on said support device engageable with said limit switches to effect an opening thereof.

2. A laundry chute clothes separator comprising a base, said base including a continuous peripheral depending flange extending from the marginal edges thereof, a motor support plate fixedly secured to the underside of said base plate, an electric motor fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom, said motor including a drive shaft and a worm gear fixedly secured thereto for rotation therewith, a gear housing fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom in proximity to said motor, a gear disposed within said housing, said worm gear extending into said housing and meshing with said gear, a shaft, means fixedly connecting one end of said shaft with said gear for rotation therewith, said shaft having its other end extending through said housing and said base plate and projecting above the latter, laundry-receiving receptacle support means to releasably receive and support a plurality of laundry-receiving receptacles thereon, means supporting said laundry-receiving support means for rotation on said base plate, means connecting the other end of said shaft with said laundry-receiving support means whereby energization of said motor effects rotation of said laundry-receiving receptacle support means relative to said base, an electric circuit including a source of E.M.F., said motor, selectively-operable switch means for intermittently energizing said motor to drive said laundry-receiving receptacle support means through a partial revolution, and switch-operating means on said receptacle support means coacting with one of said switches to interrupt said circuit after said laundry-receiving receptacle has been driven through a partial revolution.

3. A laundry chute clothes separator comprising a base, said base including a normally horizontal base plate having a continuous peripheral depending flange extending from the marginal edges thereof, said depending flange having integrally formed therewith a continuous, inwardly-extending, normally horizontal flange, a plurality of floor-engaging roller support means fixedly secured to said horizontal flange, a motor support plate fixedly secured to the underside of said base plate, an electric motor fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom, said motor including a drive shaft and a worm gear fixedly secured thereto for rotation therewith, a gear housing fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom in proximity to said motor, a gear disposed within said housing and fixedly secured to one end of a shaft, said worm gear meshing with said gear, the other end of said shaft extending through said housing and said base plate and projecting above the latter, laundry-receiving support means comprising a bottom plate, means interposed between said bottom plate and said base plate to rotatably support the former on the latter, said bot tom plate having a continuous upstanding side wall integral with the marginal edges of said bottom plate, the upper end of said side wall terminating in a normally horizontal inwardly-extending continuous flange which terminates in a continuous depending side wall, a floor extending across and fixedly secured to said side wall, a plurality of laundry-receiving receptacles normally disposed on said floor, means fixedly secured to said bottom plate to receive and connect the other end of said shaft therewith, an electric circuit including a source of E.M.F., said motor, and a plurality of selectively-operable switches interposed in said circuit, a remotely-disposed selector switch adapted for connection in series with said selectively-operable switches, said switches being operable to intermittently energize said motor to turn said laundry-receiving receptacle support means, and consequently said laundry-receiving receptacles, through a partial revolution.

4. A laundry chute clothes separator comprising a base, said base including a normally horizontal base plate having a continuous peripheral depending flange extending from the marginal edges thereof, said depending flange having integrally formed therewith a continuous inwardly-extending, normally horizontal flange, a plurality of floor-engaging roller support means fixedly secured to said horizontal flange, a motor support plate fixedly secured to the underside of said base plate, an electric motor fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom, said motor including a drive shaft and a worm gear fixedly secured thereto for rotation therewith, a gear housing fixedly secured to said motor support plate and depending therefrom in proximity to said motor, a gear disposed within said housing and fixedly secured to one end of said shaft, said worm gear meshing with said gear, the other end of said shaft extending through said housing and said base plate and projecting above the latter, laundry-receiving receptacle support means comprising a bottom plate, means interposed between said bottom plate and said base plate to rotatably support the former on the latter, said bottom plate having a continuous upstanding side wall integral with the marginal edges of said bottom plate, the upper end of said side wall terminating in a normally horizontal inwardly-extending continuous flange which terminates in a continuous depending side wall, a fioor extending across and fixedly secured to said side wall, means fixedly secured to said bottom plate to receive and connect said other end of said shaft therewith, an electric series circuit including an AC. source, said motor and a normally open electromagnet relay switch, said switch having an energizable winding to effect the closing of said switch to energize said motor, a voltage step-down transformer having a primary and a secondary winding, means connecting said primary winding with said source, a lead connecting one side of said secondary with one side of said winding of said electromagnet relay switch, a selectively-operable switch including a rotatable switch arm and a plurality of fixed switch contacts, a lead connecting the other side of said secondary with said switch arm, a plurality of normally closed single-pole singlethrow micro-switches fixedly secured to said base plate at spaced intervals therearound, each of said switches including a fixed switch contact and a switch arm, a switch arm-operating cam fixedly secured to said bottom wall to successively engage said micro-switches switch arms to effect an opening of the engaged one of said micro-switches, a lead common to all of said fixed switch contacts of said micro-switches and connected with the other side of the winding of said electromagnet relay switch, and leads connecting, respectively, one of said fixed switch contacts of said selectively-operable switch with one of the arms of said micro-switches.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. A LAUNDRY CHUTE CLOTHES SEPARATOR COMPRISING A BASE, AN UPRIGHT LAUNDRY-RECEIVING RECEPTACLE SUPPORT DEVICE, MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR ROTATION ON SAID BASE, A PLURALITY OF LAUNDRY-RECEIVING RECEPTACLES REMOVABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AN ELECTRIC MOTOR FIXED SECURED TO SAID BASE, SAID MOTOR INCLUDING A DRIVE SHAFT HAVING A WORM GEAR FIXEDLY SECURED THEREON, A GEAR HOUSING FIXEDLY SECURED ON SAID BASE, A GEAR DISPOSED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND MESHING WITH SAID WORM GEAR IN DRIVING RELATION, AN UPRIGHT DRIVEN SHAFT HAVING ONE OF ITS ENDS FIXEDLY SECURED TO SAID GEAR AND ITS OTHER END FIXEDLY CONNECTED WITH SAID SUPPORT MEANS WHEREBY ENERGIZATION OF SAID MOTOR WILL EFFECT ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS, AN ELECTRIC CIRCUIT INCLUDING A SOURCE OF E.M.F., SAID MOTOR, A SELECTOR SWITCH AND A PLURALITY OF NORMALLY CLOSED LIMITING SWITCHES FOR LIMITING THE DURATION IN TIME OF THE ENERGIZATION OF SAID MOTOR WHEREBY THE DEGREE OF ROTATION OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS IS ALSO LIMITED, SAID SELECTOR SWITCH BEING OPERABLE TO CONNECT THE SAME IN SERIES WITH ONE OF SAID LIMITING SWITCHES TO ENERGIZE SAID MOTOR, SAID LIMITING SWITCHES BEING CARRIED ON SAID BASE, AND MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT DEVICE ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID LIMIT SWITCHES TO EFFECT AN OPENING THEREOF. 